Sunday Worship:
In Person and
Streaming
at 9:00 and
11:15 am
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This Week at Pender
December 22, 2022
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By following Jesus
and reaching out to others,
we seek God's transformation
of ourselves and our world.
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December 24th and 25th, 2022 |
Christmas Eve Services
This night is about the tradition, about the familiar, about feeling at home in this newly renovated sanctuary. It seems that with the text from Luke this year that we can’t get enough of the shepherds. As they are among the first witnesses of the miracle, their presence is a clue to the meaning of this mystery. Come experience the joy with us!
Pender UMC Christmas Eve Family Service on Saturday, December 24, 2022 at 4:00 pm
On Christmas Eve, Saturday, December 24, 2022, the Family Service will feature an extended “time with children” for the little ones. Kids will be invited to be a part of the nativity scene in an impromptu way. We will also have electric candles to light at the end. There will be scripture reading and preaching.
Music will be provided by the Common Ground team.
Pender UMC Christmas Eve Saturday, December 24, 2022 at 9:00 pm: Candles, Carols and Communion
On Saturday, December 24, 2022, Pender will hold a traditional candlelight service. You’ll hear and sing the traditional Christmas Carols. There will be scripture reading and preaching. We’ll serve Holy Communion. There will not be a children’s activity at this service.
Music will be provided by the Sanctuary Choir, Sean Wittmer, Liz Eunji Moon and Brian Stevenson.
Christmas Day at 10 am
On Christmas morning we will hold an in-person only Birthday Party for Jesus. A carol sing and a message for children and adults will be the order of morning worship. Then we’ll join for cake in the Gathering Place.
Kids, and young at heart, can wear their pajamas if they like!
There will be one service only Christmas morning!
We look forward to seeing you!
Most of Pender's services are streamed live and in person. Masks are currently optional.
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The Christmas Eve Family Service will be in person and live-streamed at 4:00 pm |
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Pender's Christmas Eve Traditional Candlelight Service is in person and live-streamed at 11:00 pm |
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"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Jesus Christ. " 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Pender is a church committed to the power of prayer. Our "prayer chain" is a group of church members constantly in prayer for the needs of our congregation. To make your prayer needs known, you may email the prayer chain by clicking here to send an email to our group of prayer warriors.
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Christmas Love Offering
Gratitude is the appreciation of a gift received. Happiness is the enjoyment of completely living in the present while sharing God’s love and grace with our neighbors. Hope is the belief and knowledge that our Father will provide for all of our needs. Today, the Staff/Pastor-Parish Relations Committee (S/PPRC) encourages all of us to think of these gifts and prayerfully consider providing a Christmas Love Offering for our staff. Our staff continually, faithfully, and with great reverence actively support Pender’s world-changing mission of: inclusive love, deepening our faith walk, racial and social justice, providing passionate worship, offering radical hospitality, teaching and encouraging each other to develop an authentic relationship with Christ, and participating in sacred resistance activities as the Holy Spirit calls us.
In partnership with the Pender family, our staff share the good news, provide hope, and they are actively engaged in making disciples for Jesus Christ—the core of what we do at Pender! It is HOPE that keeps us moving forward, towards becoming more Christ-like in our daily lives. HOPE has sustained our work in the domestic and international mission field for more than 150 years. We have celebrated and rejoiced with our children, youth, and families as they have connected with each other, in learning about Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit all through our recorded, streaming, and on-line Bible studies, Sunday School classes, and youth group sessions. The staff have delivered essential and insightful weekly podcasts highlighting sermons and critical conversations with people from the community. Our staff partner with us to provide opportunities of sharing the sacrament of holy communion together, and to joyfully engage with each other through a variety of evangelical outdoor parking lot and fireside chat events.
The collaboration of Pender staff and volunteers have provided worship music in both contemporary and traditional styles that encourages us to disconnect from the outside noise and be fully present in worship services, funerals, and weddings. Newsletters, Constant Contact announcements, outdoor message signs, as well as our creative social media presence on Facebook, You Tube, and Twitter repeatedly provide information to us and the Fairfax community regarding Pender events. The powerful sermons that challenge and encourage us to reflect on our personal relationship with Christ and how we share the good news and the gospel with others is a testimony of our staff gifts and offerings to each of us.
S/PPRC encourages each of you to prayerfully consider making a love offering gift – indicate "Love Offering Gift" in the memo of your check or online giving by Saturday, December 31, 2022. Please note that love offerings are not tax deductible.
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Northern Virginia District Training Day is designed to give church leaders support, training, and inspiration for another year in Ministry.
2 Keynote Speakers. 40+ Additional Workshops.
Over the last 2.5 years we have needed to learn how to be resilient and adapt to the messiness of constant change. As we realize that the mess is not going away, we now need tools to sustain us today and in the foreseeable future. We are SO excited to welcome Kate Bowler AND Tod Bolsinger as our NoVa District Training Day keynote speakers to help give us context and perspective as we navigate the challenges ahead.
Plan to spend Saturday, January 14 with Kate and Tod live via webinar and then explore the 40+ additional prerecorded workshops we’ve prepared for you!
Event Schedule
9:00 AM - Introductions, Opening Remarks
9:30 AM - KEYNOTE 1: Kate Bowler
11:00 AM - Break
11:15 AM - KEYNOTE 2: Tod Bolsinger
12:45 PM - All Additional Content Releases
This year our schedule looks a bit different. We will all log into the first Keynote Presentation (Kate Bowler) at 9:00 for opening remarks, introductions, and some information about our day. Kate Bowler will begin speaking at 9:30.
Then, at 11:15 we will move to the second Keynote Presentation (Tod Bolsinger) together.
At 12:45 we break for lunch and all additional workshop content releases. Spend your afternoon exploring the prerecorded workshops that will enhance your ministry.
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Information Session
The Rev. Dr. Sarah Calvert, Northern Virginia District Superintendent, will lead another information session on Monday, February 6, at 7pm in The Gathering Place. There has been a lot misinformation, by various entities, regarding both LGBQT plus inclusion within the United Methodist Church and disaffiliation. As Superintendent of our District, The Rev. Dr. Calvert will share information with the hope of bringing greater clarity regarding inclusion and disaffiliation. Nothing more should be implied or inferred by the offering of this opportunity.
If you have been keeping up at church, you’ll recall that the Vision Team previously had two information sessions on November 6 and 13. The Vision Team presented answers to frequently made assertions and a slide show was presented based on the Annual Conferences’ “Team Jeremiah” work. Approximately 10-15 people showed up each afternoon. As a follow up, links to Team Jeremiah information was provided in the weekly news and church bulletin for those who could not attend.
The upcoming session with our DS on February 6 does not obligate Pender in any way. As a member of Pender, however, it is important that you receive, and share, accurate information. Please come!
~The Vision Team
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Pender has a powerful group of individuals who pray for the needs of the congregation. This group offers prayers of thanksgiving, for strength, for healing power for family and friends and for other issues in your life.
Please contact Iris Salcewicz with any prayer requests you have and if you would like to become a prayer warrior for Pender.
Your joys and concerns will be added to the prayer list.
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This year’s Christmas Offering will be used to pool our funds with those of other congregations within The United Methodist Church to accomplish things that are either beyond our ability to do as an individual congregation or that can be done more effectively or efficiently together with other congregations.
The Christmas Offering will go toward apportionments. Through the payment of apportionments Pender shares in the larger ministry of The United Methodist Church and the ministry of Pender United Methodist Church is expanded and multiplied.
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GBE Backpack Program Update:
Thank you all for your generous donations of food last month.
Please look for the next set of shopping bags in the church lobby with a return date of January 8, 2023!
Your involvement in the ministry is essential to its success!
If you have any questions, please contact Ann Hines or Jami Flemmons
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Please join the Pender Book Lovers Group on Sunday, January 8 at 4 PM. The group meets by Zoom and the book discussion lasts 1-2 hours.
This month we are reading The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave, which is available at the library and on Amazon.
Please contact Iris Salcewicz for more details.
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Please remember the church in your year end giving. It is important for your tax records to have released control of your gifts (and document having made them) on or before December 31, 2022.
It will make members of the church staff life easier if you make your gifts on or before December 26!
We thank you for your contributions in 2022.
In the New Year, we will have a financial campaign for the general budget.
Please begin praying now about your giving for 2023.
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Children's Sunday School meets Sunday in person from 10:15 - 11am.
Welcome to Sunday School!
Any questions? Please speak with Miss Jane or Miss Maya!
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Hi Sunday School Families & Friends,
There are some wonderful family/children's activities happening in December. Please come and enjoy! All are welcome -- and invite a friend!
Last Sunday's Christmas Social and live Nativity were a huge success!
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Sunday School
Topic: Youth Sunday School
Time: Sundays @ 10:oo am-11am
At Pender
Late December-January Youth News
The youth “Christmas Dinner” had been planned for Thursday, December 22. By popular demand, it has been RESCHEDULED for Thursday, January 5th at 6pm. It is now a New Year’s Bash! (Guapo’s is located at 13050 Fair Lakes Shopping Center, Fairfax, VA 22033.)
Possible dates for the Wizard’s game (mid-Jan or early February) have been texted to our youth (Jan. 13, 21, or Feb. 3). Youth, please respond to Rev. White right away to let him know of your preferences! We can pick only one date and we need to get tickets, so let him know now! Once we have a date, confirmation texts will be sent, then we’ll confirm and publish. Be on the lookout! Invite your friends!
With all these shenanigans, please make some time to talk about faith at a regular youth meeting on January 29th at 6:30pm in the Youth Room. Free pizza…please come!
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"Lights of Christmas"
Within a humble stable,
The Light of the World was born.
Lying in a manger bed,
No gold or silver adorn.
Hope came to a weary world,
Announced with heavenly light.
Angels proclaimed the Good News
Wearing robes of purest white.
The radiance of a star
Brought kings from a far-off land.
They came to worship Jesus,
As His father, God, had planned.
May beams of grace and mercy
Enlighten our souls with peace.
Through power of the scripture,
Give anxious fears swift release.
Dear Savior, Light of the World,
Our joy is complete in You.
Please help us to be beacons
In things that we say and do.
~by Saundra Sandrock
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Reminder! Items for the newsletter and bulletin are due by noon on Monday. |
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Do you order from Amazon?
Pender United Methodist Church (EIN: 54-0856924) has been issued a $43.12 donation from the AmazonSmile Foundation as a result of AmazonSmile program activity between April 1 and June 30, 2022.
So far, AmazonSmile has donated:
• $1,133.46 to Pender United Methodist Church
• Over $306 million to US charities
• Over $346 million to charities worldwide
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During the month of December, enjoy 50% of a great meal at Sedona Taphouse (4970 Westcroft Blvd) in Chantilly while supporting WFCM!
For every* HALF PRICE 8 oz. Black Angus Flat Iron Steak, 8 oz. Grilled Chicken, or 7 oz. Norwegian Salmon entrée sold on Mondays in December, Sedona Taphouse will donate $1 to our organization!
*You must dine in on a Monday, purchase a beverage, and the promotion is limited to one entrée per person.
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Western Fairfax Christian Ministries
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WFCM has been providing food and services to the community for 35 years. Pender was one of the twelve founding churches that set the path and began the journey.
Thanks goes out to all of you who continue to support WFCM many programs.
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The WFCM blue cart is outside the church.
All donations of food and toiletries are welcomed and needed.
Item of the Week: Cereal
Item for Next Week: Canned Vegetables
Please no:
* Expired food
* Glass jars
Thank you for your continuing generous support of WFCM.
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Western Fairfax Christian Ministries ("WFCM") Current Request for Donations
The WFCM Food Pantry is accepting outside donations at their address below. There is a greater need for food but fewer donations.
You can also help by ordering from Amazon for delivery to WFCM. Rice, beans, canned fruit, diapers (Sizes 4, 5, 6), pasta, pasta sauce, etc.
WFCM
4511 Daly Drive, Suite J
Chantilly, VA 20151
Financial contributions are also accepted (cash, check or through our website). Please mark your tax deductible donation "WFCM Food Pantry." This will be recorded on your giving statement.
Thank you for your continuing support of WFCM. In 2021, Pender donated 6,128.74 pounds of food and personal care items to help the needy in the community. Thank you for your ongoing and generous support of WFCM.
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Pender is an open and welcoming church. We accept and embrace all persons, period. All people are blessed children of God. Pender is a caring and praying church community; we believe as Christians that we are called to follow and practice the ways of Jesus Christ, who is our ever present and living God.
Our mission is to practice and embrace, providing unconditional love and acceptance of all of God's children as He loves and accepts all of us.
We do not discriminate based on age, mental, physical, or intellectual ability, culture, gender, race, religious belief or unbelief, or sexual orientation.
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December 24, Christmas Eve Services at 4 and 9
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December 25, Christmas/Birthday Party for Jesus
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December 26-January 2, The Church Office is Closed
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December 29, No Newsletter
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January 1, Covenant Service at 9 and 11:15
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January 8, Return GBE bags
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January 8, Book Lovers Group
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January 14, Northern Virginia District Training Day
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February 12 through the 18th, Hypothermia
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February 25, Pender Hill School Open House.
Weekly Events
- Sunday
- Children's Sunday School Class at 10:15 am.
- Youth Sunday School Class meets at 10:00 am.
- The Seeker Sunday School Class meets at 10:15 am.
- The Turning Point Youth Group at 4:00 pm
- Monday
- Mary Martha Circle, in person and online
- Tuesday
- Staff Meeting at 11:00 am.
- Handbell Rehearsals at 6:45 and 7:30.
- Wednesday
- Ruth Circle meets in person.
- Thursday
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4th Thursday Romeos at 11:45
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Lectio Divina Prayer Group Learn more here
- AV and Worship Team
- Choir Rehearsal
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